Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Follow the exploits of a two-man hiking adventure in the August issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine Managing Editor, Louie Bond.

We have a great combination of one of the best writers with one of the best photographers. Joe Nick Patoski has teamed up with Laurence Parent. And they’ve done several books already together that are just spectacular on Texas Mountains, the Texas Coast and the Big Bend area. And this is an exclusive hike that took just for us. And they hiked the Franklin Mountains out there in El Paso. And it wasn’t just any hike—they hiked the ridge—which is a very, very difficult hike. They are adventurers; they have a lot of confidence in each other. And, this is the whole saga. Laurence is taking photos the whole way. They do have an experienced guide helping them, but it sounds like the hike from hell. It is grueling; on one side of the ridge they have to have jackets on for the 30 MPH wind gusts that are chilling them. On the other side of the ridge they are peeling off their clothes. There’re places that they have to crawl on their hands and knees. About eight hours into the ten mile trip, they have to scale a 40-foot cliff. And, even for these experienced hikers, this was quite a climb. And, I can’t wait to see the photos and for everyone to read this great saga written by these two adventurers.

The August issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine is on newsstands now.

That’s our show…for Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Fifteen years ago, on the sixtieth anniversary of Caddo Lake State Park, a time capsule was buried at the site.

I wasn’t here, so I don’t know what’s in that time capsule; it’s going to be very interesting to dig it up.

Superintendent Todd Dickinson says July 4th, the 75th anniversary of the park, staff will unearth that capsule.

That’s correct. We’ll be unearthing a time capsule which was placed at the sixtieth anniversary, and we’re trying to find as many people as we can that were here at the sixtieth anniversary, so they can participate in this.

They intend to rebury the container with new artifacts, to be opened in 2084, the park’s 150th anniversary; you can help decide what future Texans find.

On this day, we will be gathering items, but we’re not going to actually place [bury] the new time capsule probably until two or three weeks later, once we decide what all’s actually going to go in there.

In addition to images and artifacts from the park and region, Dickinson hopes to add something truly special.

There’s a handful of people that were here at the grand opening, you know, as children, seventy-five years ago. And. We’re going to try really hard to have them be here on that day and maybe—if they will—put some thoughts down on paper about what they remember and what’s changed over the years. And that would be something that we could include in the time capsule.

So what should go into the time capsule? Log onto passporttotexas.org and let us know; we’ll pass along your suggestions.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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July 4, 2009 — Caddo Lake SP & WMA — 75th Anniversary — Originally celebrated on July 4, 1934, the park was the first authorized Civilian Conservation Corps project for a Texas state park. The day s events will include the unearthing of a time capsule buried at the 60th Anniversary, plus we will be gathering items to place in a new time capsule. This new capsule will be opened at the 100th Anniversary Celebration. Also, there will be traveling exhibits depicting historical information about both the Caddo Indians and the CCC. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (903) 679-3351.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Caddo Lake State Park is among 30 Texas State Parks developed or improved by the Civilian Conservation Corps…but this site has a special distinction…

Caddo Lake State Park was the first authorized Civilian Conservation Corps project in Texas…all the way back in 1933. . .

The grand opening took place July 4, 1934, and park superintendent Todd Dickinson says they’re hosting a 75th anniversary event this July 4th.

We’ll have a formal event here at the state park. And there’ll be some speakers and some demonstrations. We will have some traveling exhibits on hand—both for the CCC and then a second set of traveling exhibits on the Caddo Indians.

There’s more happening at the event than we can mention here. But one thing Dickinson wants you to know is that once activities wind down at Caddo, they rev up down the road.

There will also be Fourth of July celebrations down in Uncertain, Texas, which is just about six miles from our park entrance. And, their events start around 3PM, with a boat parade on the lake, and culminates at dark with fireworks.

The activity that interests me most is the unearthing of a time capsule buried in the park. And we’ll have more on that tomorrow.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Diversity, your name is Texas. And on the Texas parks and Wildlife TV series in July, viewers will go rock climbing and follow a flock or Sandhill cranes. Producer Abe Moore.

On the show in July, we do some rock climbing and tell people about how to do it and where to go. And a couple of places we go are Enchanted Rock and Hueco Tanks.

Okay guys, today we’re going to be climbing on the back of the main dome of Enchanted Rock. This back area faces North, and the climbing heights range from a hundred foot tall, where we are, down to three hundred feet tall on further down the dome.

Also in July, we’re doing a story on Sandhill cranes. Sandhill cranes are an amazing bird; they’re the oldest surviving bird species in the world. And they come through Texas on their winter migration. And one place you can find them is at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge NW of Lubbock.

We have significant amount of water that allows the cranes to roost, and the local farming areas around, provide feeding areas for them during the day.

For me, just the sandhill cranes are just an iconic bird, I guess. It’s truly a migrating wonder.

Thanks, Abe.

Find stations airing the series at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… sponsored with a grant from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuels.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Brad Bell doesn’t think twice when you ask him why anyone would climb a rock.

Why would someone wanna…because it’s there…

The Austin resident teaches the sport of rock climbing. He says although you don’t need rock-hard abs to climb –before you attempt this sport — a little weight training may be the first order…

Upper body strength is good and leg strength is even more of a plus.

There ya go…push with your hand and then move your hand up to the next one…there ya go. Pull on up…good!

And even though rock climbing offers climbers a feeling of solitude, it is critical – whether you’re a novice or a seasoned climber — never go alone.

You should always have team partners… when you go you should never do it alone because up there you have to have a partner to help you belay and help you repel down and basically it’s a team effort all the way up.

Four Texas state parks offer rock climbing: Enchanted Rock, north of Fredericksburg, Hueco Tanks, just north of El Paso, Caprock Canyons southeast of Amarillo and Lake Mineral Wells.

That’s our show for today…for Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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